Opening device for cans, boxes, or the like.



P. SCHOLZ. OPENING DEVICE FOR CANS, BOXES, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26. 1911.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

Inventor: P. S B11 B15 Attorney PAUL SGHOLZ, OFBERGEN, NGRWAY.

GPENING nnvron non cans, BOXES, on crnn LIKE.3

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 16,1913;

Application and December 26, 1911. serial no. 667,980.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL Sorronz, a 'subject of the King of Norway, residing at Bergen, Norway, have invented new and useful Improvements in Opening Devices for Cans, Boxes, or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to opening devices for cans or boxes for containing food tobacco or the like, of the kind adapted to be opened by means of a tongue on the cover or lid of the box, a key being provided around which the tongue is coiled during the opening operation so as to tear the cover and enable the contents of the box to be removed. In previous constructions of this kind the tongue which forms an extension of the cover or lid of the box is folded into the single or double fold Connecting the body of the box and the cover. In order to open the box the tongue must first be drawn 'out of the fold thematerial of which the cover is composed being simultaneously torn open. In order to effect this keys of considerable strength must be employed, audit is frequently found that the force which it is necessary to apply results in the tongue being entirely torn off before the box is opened, thereby rendering the opening device useless.

The present invention has for its object to avoid this disadvantage and to provide a reliable and convenient opening means, which can be applied to a can or box without affecting the tightness of the fold-connection.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a boxcover provided with arrangements for opening constructions, in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale of a section on the line II in Fig. 1 showing the normal fold connecting the box body and cover. Figs. 3 and I are similar views in section on the lines II-II and III-III respectively in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line IV-IV in Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow on the section-line. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the opening tongue 1- is not as in previous constructions a direct extension of the material of the box-lid --2- beyond the edge 4- of the folding'rim -3--, but is an extension of an extra projection 5 beyond the edge-line l-. On both sides of the root of the tongue the sheet material of the projection 5 is out along the lines (i as far as the edge line 4--, so that the projection 5 consists of a middle portion 7 and two side portions -S-. Instead of cutting along lines 6-- perpendicularly to the line -4.-, such cutting may also follow convergin lines as indicated at (E -6" in Fig. 1. WIren now the box body 9-- and the cover 2- are folded together, the fold at all parts of the edge, except at the tongue, for instance at the line II, will take the normal shape shown in Fig. 2. At the section II-II where the side portions -S- of the projection are located the fold will appear as shown in Fig. 3. Where the tongue -1- is located, however, the fold will be one layer thicker and accordingly the middle portion l of the projection will be doubled and, will only extend a short distance beyond the edge of the rim -10- of the box body -9 as shown in F ig. 4;. The tongue proper is thus located completely outside the fold and during the opening operation the middle portion 7 of the projection is easily drawn out of the fold as the cover is cut as far as the points-41- (see Figs. 4: and 1). As the opening of the box proceeds the rim -3-- of the cover is torn through in the usual manner and during this part of the openingoperation the side portions -8- of the projection stiffen the fold at both sides of the root of the tongue.

In assembling the box by the usual folding operation the side portions -8 of the projection --5- will steady the tongue, so that the folding rollers cannot bend it into an incorrect position for opening. Furthermore, it is found in practice that the material of the portions 7-- and S- close to the lines of cutting -(3 is spread out sidewise under the influence of the folding rollers, so that the portions -7-- and --t after the folding of the parts of the box will overlap one another somewhat, as shown in Fig. 5, thus preventing leakage at this point.

If desired the form of construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be adapted in which the projection -5-, which extends beyond the edge 41-, comprises small extensions --12- on which a loose tongue -13- (shown in Fig. 7 may be secured, the tongue -13- being provided with slots 14-- adapted to receive the extensions 12. The tongue 13 can if desired be secured in position after the cover is attached to the body of the box, or the opening key can be provided with two holes adapted to engage directly with the extensions 12-, the latter replacing in this case the tongue -l3-. Finally the tongue 1 as illustrated in Fig. 1 need not be integral with the projection 5, but may constitute a separate piece and be secured, by solder or by folding, to the freely located edge portion of the projection 5 after the box body and the cover have been folded together.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet metal can or boxcover having a folding rim, a part projecting beyond the rim edge line, a tongue forming an extension of said projecting part, the sheet material of said projecting part being formed with two cuts extending from the root of the tongue inwardly to the said rim edge line, the sheet metal edges formed by the said cuts lying closely together.

2. A sheet metal can or box cover having a folding rim, a part projecting beyond the rim edge line, a tongue forming an extension of said projecting part and having a smaller width than the said part, the sheet material of said projecting part be ing formed with two outs extending from the root of the tongue inwardly to the said rim edge line so as to divide the projecting part into three portions.

3. In combination, a can or box body and a cover having a folding rim, a part projecting beyond the rim edge line, a tongue forming an extension of said projecting part and having a smaller width than the said part, the sheet material of said projecting part being formed with two outs extending from the-root of the tongue inwardly to the said rim edge line so as to divide the projecting part into three portions, the sheet metal edges formed by the cuts lying closely together, the can or box cover so constructed being folded together with a can or box body having an outer folding rim, whereby the central of the said three portions is caused to project partially into the joint in a folded condition.

4. In combination, a can or box body, and a cover having a folding rim, a part projecting beyond the rim edge line, an extension on the projecting part, the sheet material of said projecting part being formed with two outs extending from its edge inwardly to the folding rim edge line so as to divide the projecting part into three portions, the sheet metal edges formed by the cuts lying closely together.

5. In combination, a can or box body, and a cover having a folding rim, a part projecting beyond the rim edge line, an extension on the projecting part, the sheet material of said projecting part being formed with two cuts extending from its edge inwardly to the folding rim edge line so as to divide the projecting part into three portions, the sheet metal edges formed by the cuts lying closely together, the can or box cover so constructed being folded together with a can or boX body having an outer folding rim, whereby the central of the said three portions is caused to project partially into the joint in a folded condition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL SCHOLZ.

Witnesses AXEL LAHN, MOGENS BUGGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

